University of Birmingham Guide: Reviews, Rankings, Fees and More

The University of Birmingham is known for being England’s first civic university which accepts students of all backgrounds and for being a founding member of the Russell Group of universities. The diverse university welcomes around 38,000 students annually, 25% of which are from the EU and the rest of the world.

Summary of University

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University of Birmingham Overview

Founded in 1900, the university has since branched out to Dubai, established a secondary school, and expanded the main campus to nearly 650 acres. The university is ranked among the top ten in the country for 17 subjects and placed 14th in the UK overall.

The University of Birmingham is known for being England’s first civic university which accepts students of all backgrounds and for being a founding member of the Russell Group of universities. The diverse university welcomes around 38,000 students annually, 25% of which are from the EU and the rest of the world.

Being a research-driven university, Birmingham has been noted as having outstanding reach and significance in its research output by the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF), especially in the fields of Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care. Among its constituent colleges are the College of Arts and Law, the College of Medical and Dental Sciences, the College of Life and Environmental Sciences, the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and the College of Social Sciences.

Birmingham’s alumni community is composed of over 350,000 former students. As of 2024, the University of Birmingham has ten alumni or staff who are Nobel laureates. Some notable alumni from the university include TV presenter Chris Tarrant OBE; Nobel laureate, chemist and physicist, Francis Aston; politician, lawyer and Chancellor, Lord Robert Cecil; and Nobel laureate and chemist, Sir Norman Haworth.

University of Birmingham Courses and Programmes

Birmingham has 17 subjects ranked among the top ten in the UK, including Physiotherapy, Chemical Engineering, Physics, and History. Some of Birmingham’ top programmes are:

Physiotherapy


The University of Birmingham’s MSci Physiotherapy programme is ranked as the number one programme for the subject in the UK. Entry requirements for the programme are a minimum of 136 UCAS points, which is the equivalent of about AAB at the A-Levels.

Students at this programme will learn the basics of anatomy and movement as well as exercise biochemistry in the first year before progressing to learn about various conditions, rehabilitation, and physiotherapy skills in the second year. Nearby healthcare facilities provide students with ample opportunities to do practice-based placements working with real patients and healthcare professionals.

History


The University of Birmingham ranked 10th in the UK for History subjects, making it a top destination for those who would like to pursue a BA in History. The university offers nine courses with History, many of which are multidisciplinary courses that combine History with another subject in the humanities such as Modern Languages and Politics. 

Entry requirements for this subject varies between 128-136 UCAS tariff points, which is the equivalent of roughly ABB-AAB. Students in the BA History (Hons) programme will learn about various eras and notable developments in history, including the Middle Ages, the history of Africa, the Modern World, and the Contemporary Modern World.

Physics


Ranked as the seventh-best university in the UK for Physics, the University of Birmingham offers 13 courses in the subject. Entry requirements for Physics programmes at the university are higher on average compared to the requirement for most other programmes it offers – on average, a minimum of 152-160 UCAS tariff points (A*AA – A*A*A) is required, although this can reach up to 192 points (AAAA) for specific courses such as BSc Physics and Astrophysics (Hons).

Students undertaking the BSc Physics (Hons) programme will take related mathematics modules such as Statistics and Probability; and Mathematics for Physics; as well as modules about physics such as Classical Mechanics and Relativity; Electromagnetism, Temperature and Matter; and so on.

University of Birmingham Entry Requirements

According to UCAS data on 2024 applications, the acceptance rate at the University of Birmingham is around 14%. This is based on 2024 applications where the university received nearly 57,000 applications and granted just under 8,000 places to students.

The entry requirements at the University of Birmingham range between BBB-AAAA, or 120-192 UCAS tariff points. The top end of this requirement range are largely for its courses in Physics, which typically require at least 152-160 UCAS tariff points (A*AA – A*A*A), up to 192 points or AAAA. Most other courses at the university require AAB-AAA, which is between 136-144 UCAS tariff points.

University of Birmingham Entry Deadline

In the UK, all university applications (including those submitted by international students like you) go through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, more commonly known as UCAS.

Most undergraduate courses will share the same deadline of 31 January of every year. Some courses such as Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Sciences and universities such as Oxford and Cambridge have an earlier deadline of 16 October in the year before admission.

For more information about key dates and other UCAS deadlines, take a look at our article UCAS Deadlines 2024.

University of Birmingham Ranking

In the Complete University Guide’s 2024 league table, the University of Birmingham ranked 14th overall in the UK. Out of 266 courses offered at the University of Birmingham, 17 of its programmes placed among the top ten in the UK based on subject league tables. Some of Birmingham’s top courses include Physiotherapy; Tourism, Transport, Travel & Heritage Studies; American Studies; Creative Writing; Social Work; Social Policy and more.

Along with the other Russell Group universities, Birmingham is known for its research output. In the latest 2024 Research Excellence Framework, the university has nine subjects ranked in the UK Top 5 for 4* including Physics (1), Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences (2), Computer Science and informatics (3), Philosophy (3), Theology and Religious Studies (3) and Area Studies (3).

University of Birmingham Fees

Undergraduate tuition fees


As of the 2024/25 academic year, the undergraduate fees at the University of Birmingham are £21,000-£28,560 per year for most courses and £46,320 per year for clinical courses. These fees do not include accommodation, transport to campus, or any other miscellaneous fee.

University of Birmingham Accommodation

The University of Birmingham has three student villages which have over 6,000 rooms combined. These student villages are Pritchatts Park, The Vale, and Selly Oak. On top of that, there are partner accommodations in the area that offer rooms in a similar budget range as well.

Students can choose from rooms offered in a variety of options and prices. Rooms are available as ensuite rooms or with shared bathrooms, and with meal plans or self-catered options. The type of rooms offered in Pritchatts Park and Selly Oak are currently self-catered only, though The Vale has better options with meal plans to suit different needs better. The price range per week is from £96-194. Rooms at Pritchatts Park range from £165-194 weekly and those in Selly Oak are around £159 per week, while rooms in The Vale varies between £240-£303. There are also three halls for postgraduate students, which are Ashcroft, The Spinney, and Jarratt Hall.

Aside from these long-term accommodation options, the university also has two hotels on campus, ideal for those attending events or visiting family and friends. The Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference offers luxurious modern bedrooms while the Lucas House Hotel is a more budget-friendly alternative.

University of Birmingham Reviews

Names may be changed to protect anonymity

Verified Student, 2022 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

University is good. The campus has a lot of good facilities especially for sports students. There are lots of clubs and societies. The university also has a lot of student services to help you with different things such as assignment writing or student finance, peoples to help find work placement for students.

Verified Student, 2022 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I study Medicine here, and I found that the staff are friendly and very approachable. My Personal Academic Tutor always found time to help me. I received consistent emails telling me about various events I could attend or services I could use. There was some emphasis put on wellbeing, which I definitely appreciated (Especially the opportunity to see therapy dogs during exam season). As an international student, it may seem daunting, but joining a society is well worth it, and it’s partially thanks to societies like MedSoc and Big Band that I’m so excited for my second year. The sports and fitness center is also very good, with a pool, a huge gym, several courts, and even a rock climbing wall.

Verified Student, 2022 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was blown away by the BEAUTIFUL campus (I told all my friends and family I thought I‘d landed at Hogwarts when I walked around for the first time). The more time I spent here the more I realized what’s the greatest thing about this uni, which is the social life. The different clubs, societies and constant events going on are what make the experience here immaculate.

University of Birmingham Facilities

The University of Birmingham offers students a well-equipped Sport & Fitness club, located on the Edgbaston campus. There is also the Tiverton Gym, located by Selly Oak.  With a membership, all students and staff of the University of Birmingham may access the facilities which include a 50-metre pool, squash courts, an accessible gym, classes, and group training. Membership prices vary depending on the package and gym. A 12-month membership at the Sport & Fitness Club starts from ₤110 while annual memberships at the Tiverton Gym starts from ₤145. 

For staff and students with young children, the university has Ofsted-registered childcare centres either on or close to campus which are offered at a special discounted rate. The Maples, The Elms, and The Oaks all offer home-from-home childcare with qualified staff to look after the children. Children aged between six weeks and four years may get a place in the university’s day nurseries. 

The university’s extensive library is open to the public. Students are given ten free visits annually and can opt for a membership to gain unlimited access to the library. The library has approximately 2.7 million books, along with plenty of journals and other printed sources for all research needs. 

For entrepreneurial students, the university’s Media Centre might just be the solution to your communication needs.. The university offers a wide range of professional media services. You could hire the Creative Media team for design, media, editorial, digital, and print services. Additionally, you could also rent their facilities which includes a state-of-the-art film studio and audio suite for podcasting.

University of Birmingham Student Activities and Clubs

The University of Birmingham has a thriving campus life with its many student activities, clubs, and societies available. The university’s Guild has over 300 student groups, societies, and associations which are a great way for students to meet new like-minded people across different programmes and cohorts. There’s a wide range of groups which encompass various areas such as media, religion, ideologies, politics, sports, hobbies, interests, activities, academic subjects, languages, and more.

Students can also get involved with volunteering – the Guild offers a number of opportunities for voluntary work and on top of that, students may volunteer at the Library’s Peer Assisted Study Scheme (PASS), university events, sports events, the Winterbourne House and Gardens, or a local charity.

Students who are musically-inclined may want to check out the Music Society which provides ample opportunities for students to make music via ensembles, choirs, orchestras, jazz groups, and more. For those who lean more towards sports, UB Sport offers 55 clubs for participants at all levels to choose from. There are also drop-in sessions and short 10-week courses for a number of sports for students to get a feel for the sport before committing. The BUAC Cool running clubs also offer sessions for runners of all levels.

University of Birmingham Contact

Official website: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)121 414 3344

Address: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom

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